Curtain drier and stretcher



April. 1, 1930.

C. L. ROOSEVELT CURTAIN DRIER AND STRETCHER Filed May 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR.

L. Rooaevel. v

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WTORNEY c. l.. ROOSEVELT CURTAIN DRIER AND STRETGHER Filed May 28, 1928 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. mi. NA.. Ev V mw mx L, h w C w A TTORNE Y April l, 1930. c. l... RoosEvELT CURTAIN DRIER AND STRETCHEH I Filed May 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y INVENTR. Cliwae Rgmsevl Patented Apr. 1, 1930 CURTAIN DRIER AND STRETCHER Application meri May 2s,

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a curtain drier and stretcher and has as its object the provision of a device of this kind in which curtains which have been laundered or cleaned maybe stretched to the desired shape and size and easily and quickly dried. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of curtain engaging means for securing the curtain at its ends andside edges and locking the saine in various positions of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotative curtain bearing member l5 adapted for rotation in a heated chamber provided with means for permitting free rotation of the curtain bearing member and preventing the escape ofheated air therefrom. Y p

Another object of the invention is the vprovision in a curtain drier and stretcher of this class of a novel and edective means of introducing the heated air thereinto and dispensing the saine so as to properly be brought against the curtain to be dried.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

rlhe invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken' on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Y Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 -4 4G of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a, fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7-47 of Fig. 2 with parts shown in section and parts broken away.

Fig. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of 7.

The invention comprises a stationary casing or housing` having an outer covering 1928. serial Naasipio.

made Vpreferably of metal and comprising a base 12, upwardly inclined sidewalls 10 and 11, each inclined inwardly at their upper ends to form the inner covering for these wallsvis provided side walls 13 and 14. An

conforming to the contour, this covering 15 being spaced from the covering 10 by suitable insulating material 16 such as asbestos or the like. V'lhe end walls comprise the outer covering 17 and t are spaced apart ne inner covering 18 which by suitable insulating mavteriai 16. Extending longitudinally of the casing is a shaft 19 which is journalled in bearings 2O and 22 mountedin the end walls of this casing, a shield 21 covering` the bearing 2O and a shield 23 covering the bearing 22. Mounted on the shaft'19 are hubs 24 having legs 25 extending outwardly. therefrom and each secured to the end wall 26. ln

the drawings only one end wall is illustrated in detail as the structure is the same at both ends. yThis end wall 26 forms apart of a rotatable housing 28 and 294 so that tatable in the outer housing, is substantially formed from the walls 27 this housing, which is rotriangular in cross section. Thesewalls 27 are mounted on a number of frames formed from the straps 30. A closure is provided for the apicesvof this triangular structure and at the end of the wall 27, as shown in Fig. 2,

there is secured to the straps 30 an outwardly projecting plate 31 which isv doubled upon itself to provide the llange S2. This plate is again angularly turned as at V33 and 34 and again provided with a flange :35, the other end 36 of this plate being secured to one of the straps 30.

The arrangement is the same at each of the apices so that a detailed description "of one will suce for both.

Formed in the flanges 32 and`35 are spaced openings 37, the purpose of which will appear herein.

c Mounted transversely of the wall 28, at opposite ends thereof, areV rack bars 38 and 39.

Extending.longitudinally of the triangular housing are channel irons 40 and 41. Positioned in these channel irons are blocks 42', extending longitudinally of which is a shaft 42 carrying at ea adapted to mesh ch end a gear or pinion 48 with the teeth of the rack 00 bar 38 or 89, the channel iron being cut away at its lower side for permitting the engagement of the gear with the rack bar. Mounted on the upper surface of the block 42 is a pad 45, secured to and projecting upwardly from which are a plurality of pins or other securing means 44. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 42, intermediate its ends, is a gear 46. Extended inwardly of the channel irons 41 and and through the blocks 42 is a plunger 47 having al reduced inner end 48 adapted to engage between the teeth of the gears 46. Fixedly mounted on the plunger 47 is a collar 49 engaging against one end of a spring 50, the other end of which engages the plate 50 securedto the outer surface of the channel 40 or 41. The spring 50 normally retains the plunger pressed inwardly into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 46 so as to normally prevent rotation of the shaft 42 upon which the pinions 43 are iinedly mounted.

A supporting rod 51 is used with the invention and has an elongated reduced portion 52 opposite end is the shorter reduced portion 54. y

`In operation, when it is desired to place a curtain on the support, the curtain is secured to the rod 51 and this rod inserted into, at its opposite ends, the openings 37 inthe flanges already mentioned. then withdrawn until the channels 40 and 41 are brought to the proper width for accommodating the curtain, this width being dependent upon the size of the curtain.

The slots 37 in which the rod 51 engages is also dependent upon the length of the curtain, a pin bearing bar 116 being extended transversely of the frame at one end. Vhen the channels 41 and .40 are brought to their proper width, the plunger will serve to lock these members in position so that the curtain is retained in stretched taut position firmly upon the frame. Y,

Positioned in the outerhousing at the lower portion thereof and extending longitudinally of the housing. are conduits 55 and 56, each open at one side and communicating witha space lying between the inner covering 15 and the upwardly extending guard plates 57 and 58. y

Mounted on the base of the inner covering and extending longitudinally of the outer housing isa housing 59 having its top open,

this housing comprising but the base and opposite side walls 59 and 59", each of which has its edge turned inwardly. VFrames 60 made from suitable strap metal are secured on the inner surface of the housing at spaced intervals for reinforcing purposes. Suspended from the upper rail of the frames 60 and extending longitudinally of the housing 59 is a trough-shaped member 61 which is triangular in cross section and has its ends 62 and 63 overlapping and secured by bolts pro- The plungers 47 are jected through slots 63 and 62 so that the size of this trough may be adjusted.

Secured to the frame 60 and to the angularly turned edges of the side walls 59 and 59 by means of suitable bolts 67 projected through the slots 65 and 66 are plates 64, these slots being used to afford an inward and outward adjustment of the plates 64 relatively to each other, these plates being secured at opposite sides of the housing 59. As sho-wn in Fig. 7, the ends of the plates 64 are cut away as at 68 and 69 to permit a ready passage of the heated air at the ends of the housing.

Leading through the base of the covering v12 and through the insulation 16 and the covering 15 and into communication with the housing 59, preferably centrally thereof, is

lan opening 70 leading to which is a conduit delivering heated air into the housing, this conduit not being shown as it maybe connected to any well known type of blower and .heating mechanism. at one end embraced by the spring 53. At the Y The covering 71 is provided with the upper redges of the outer Vhousing having one edge 72 turned downwardly to engage the cover,- ing 10 and the other side 7 3 angularly turned downwardly and provided with the angularly turned portion 74. Secured to this angularly turned portion 74 and projecting outwardly therefrom is a strip 75 formed from felt, leather or other suitable flexible sealing material.

In operation, after the curtain has been secured to the frame as desired, the triangularshaped housing may be rotated on 'the shaft 19 as an axis so thatv when one curtain is fastened to the frame, the same may be rotated into the interior of the outer housing. This will bring one of the frames into the upper Y position shown in Fig. 2 so that the curtain may be removed therefrom and replaced with a new one, upon which a turning of the triangular-sh( ped housing another section may be effected. The heated air or superheated steam entering the lhousing 59 is deiiected by the trough-shaped members 61 into the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2 passing upwardly and thence downwardly in the space between the guard plates 57 andf58 and the covering 1 5 and outwardly from the conduits 55 and 56.

In operation,.it has been demonstrated that when the air is of suii'icient humidity and raised to fa sufficiently high temperature a curtain will be dried as quickly as they can be removed and replaced, so that a constant feeding of the curtains into the outer housing takes place.

By adjusting the plates 64 the space between the inner edges of the plates 6 4 and the'edges of the trough-shaped member 61 will be determined, so as to regulate the amount of air passing therethrough. Also by adjusting the ends 62 an'd 63 of this trianguend of said casing for preventing escape of lar-shaped deflecting member 6l, the direcfluid therefrom.

tion of the currents of air will be determined so that the current ofair will always pass along the outer surface of the curtain rather than the inner surface, as it has been demonstrated that to direct the current of air in this location will effect a quicker drying and provide a curtain, when dried, of the best appearance.

By sealing with the flexible members and 76, which engage the end walls of the triangular-shaped housing, an escape of air is reduced to a minimum and the convenience of the operator considerablyenhanced.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a curtain stretcher and drier an outer i casing; Huid distributing means in said casing at the lower side thereof and communieating, exteriorly thereof, through an opening; outlet conduits in said casing communieating with the interior of said casing, adj acent the upper side thereof; a curtain supporting member rotatably mounted in said casing; and means for sealing said casing at the sides of said supporting member for pre'- venting escape of fluid therefrom.

2. In a curtain stretcher and drier of the class described: a casing having an opening formed therein; a housing positioned in said casing and provided with an opening in its base registering with the opening in said casing; reinforcing frames extended transversely of said housing at spaced intervals; a

triangular-shaped distributing member ex-i tended centrally axially of said housing and mounted on said frames, the ends of said distributor being overlapped and adapted for relative movement for adjusting the size of said distributor; a longitudinally extended plate at each side of said housing at the upper portion thereof and movable inwardly and outwardly of the longitudinal edges of said distributor.

8. In a device of the class described: an outer casing; iuid distributing means in said casing adjacent the lower side thereof and communicating through an opening with the exterior thereof; outlet conduits in said casing communicating with the interior of said casing adjacent the upper side thereof, said casing being opened at its upper side; a supporting member rotatably mounted in said casing; and means cooperating with said casing for sealing said casing at the sides of said supporting member and closing the open In testimony Vwhereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

CLAUDE L. ROOSEVELT. 

